Speed control for winding machines



Aug. 20, 1957 J. R; LONG SPEED CONTROL FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed Ot. 7, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Comessev Ana n I 2.6 -H

Tm-m WEI Lowe ATTORNEYS J. R. LONG SPEED CONTROL FOR WINDING MACHINES Aug. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1955 E R R. u 0 mm m m. 5 Au e. P m R 7 N 6 w w y A A I I v v V rt z. E I J w WWW w w 4 4 n 0 7 H n I H a, n v. M m I 3 G /E b ZN 4. 6 5 L6 z 5 I $6? a ATTORNEYS United States Patent SPEED CONTROL FOR WINDING MACHINES John R. Long, Hickory, N. c., assignor to Shuford Mills, Inc., Hickory, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application October 7, 1955, Serial No. 539,130

12 Claims. (Cl. 57-95) This invention relates to winding machines of the type wherein yarn is wound on bobbins by means of travelers mounted on rings movable with traversing ring rail. This type mechanism is used on spinning or twisting machines and the present invention is disclosed in association with a spinning machine, although it is to be understood that the present invention may be readily adapted to other types of winding machines.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Variable Speed Drive, Serial Number 418,536, filed March 25, 1954.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and inexpensive mechansism for progressively increasing the speed of spinning and twisting machines and the like Without requiring variable speed motors.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the type described including means under control of the ring rail or traversing mechanism for progressively increasing the speed of the machine as the diameter of the yarn wound on bobbinthereof increases.

Due to the ballooning of the yarn between the usual ring-traveler and the bobbin, it is necessary to operate spinning machines and the like at relatively slow speeds in order to avoid placing excessive tension on the yarn at this point. However, since the yarn tension is greatest at small diameters of the spinning package and smallest at the largest diameters of the package, it is apparent that the speed of the bobbins and the traversing ring rail may be increased as the diameter of the package increases. Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide means under control of the traversing mechanism or traversing ring rail for gradually increasing the pressure admitted to a fluid operated variable speed pulley assembly driven by a constant speed motor and which pulley is coupled to the usual main cylinder shaft of a spinning machine or the like by means of a V-belt and wherein increased fluid pressure admitted to the variable speed pulle'y assembly proportionately increases the effective' diameter of the variable speed pulley to correspondingly increase the speed of the main shaft as the diameter of the yarn package increases.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means to facilitate the resetting of the mechanism to the slow speed of operation required after the completion of the cycle of progressively increasing speed.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which j Figure 1 is a front elevation of an end portion of a spinning frame with parts broken away and other parts omitted and showing the improved speed control mechanism mounted thereon;

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially along line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure l;

2 Figure 4 is a view looking at the left-hand side of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the variable speed pulley assembly taken sub der shaft 15. The main cylinder shaft 15 has, a cylinder.

16 thereon which drives belts 17 which, in turn, impart rotation to the spindles 13. The usual builder motion,"

.. not shown, which is also driven by the main shaft 15,.

rocks a cross arm 20 about its axis to move a lifting armor lever 21 attached to the cross arm 20.

The lifting arm or lever 21 is connected to a conven-- tional lifting rod 22 which imparts vertical reciprocation to the ringvrail 14. The ring rail 14 supports a plurality of rings 23 each of which has a traveler 24 thereon for guiding yarn Y onto a corresponding bobbin 25 carried by each spindle 13. Each strand of yarn Y passes from a suitable source, not shown, and through the usual rolls, not shown, and through a guide eye 26 where the yarn balloons as it is guided through the corresponding traveler 24 and then inwardly to the corresponding bobbin 25. The parts heretofore described are usual parts of a spinning machine and similar machines and it is with such parts that the present invention is adapted to be associated.

It is, of course, conventional to drive spinning machines and the like by means of an electric motor such as the motor indicated at 30 in Figures 1 and 2. However, the

electric motor 30 is mounted in a manner peculiar to the,

present invention to facilitate movement of the motor toward and away from the main shaft 15 of the machine as the effective diameter of a variable speed pulley assemthe shaft 32 thereof, this variable speed pulley, assembly' 31 being of a type such as is disclosed inmy co-pending application, Serial Number 418,536, filed March 25, 1954 i,

The electric motor 30 has a pair of conductors 33, 34 co nected thereto which lead to a plug 35 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown. The conductor 33 has a manually operable switch 36. interposed therein for controlling the flow of current to the electric motor 30. I

The electric motor 30 is fixed on a plate 37 mounted for horizontal sliding movement in a frame broadly designated at 40 and including a pair of channel members 41, 42. The channel members 41, 42 are fixed on a base plate 43 suitably secured to the floor upon which the spinning machine rests and corresponding ends of the channel members 41, 42 have opposite ends of a transverse bar 44 fixed thereto, to a medial portion of whichan anchor bolt 45 is secured. The anchor bolt 45 extends beneath the central portion of the electric motor 30 and is connected to one end of a tension spring 46 whose other end is connected to a plate 47, as at 50. The plate 47 is suitably secured to the plate 37 upon which the motor 30 is secured. Thus, the tension spring 46 urges the electric motor toward the observer in Figure 1 or away from the main shaft 15.

The variable speed pulley assembly 31 is of a type such as is fully disclosed in said co-pending application, Serial Number 418,536 and, accordingly, only so'much of the variable speed pulley assembly 31 will be described;

as is necessary to a clear understanding of the present invention.

The variable speed pulley assembly 31 (Figure comprises a sleeve 52 which is fixed on the motor shaft 32, as by a key 53 and set screws 54 and, adjacent its outer end, sleeve 52 has a snap ring 54a thereon which serves as end limiting means for a tubular hub 55 keyed on sleeve 52. The variable speed pulley assembly 31 is shown as being provided with two pulleys, although only one of them is used in this instance. It is apparent, however, that both of the pulleys of the variable speed pulley assembly 31 may be used, if desired.

The hub 55 has an annular inclined flange 56 integral therewith and a second correspondingly inclined flange 57 is also fixed on a medial portion .of hub 55. A pair of movable inclined flanges 60, 61 are keyed for longitudinal axial sliding movement on the hub 55, the flanges 56, 60 forming one pulley and the flanges 57, 61 forming another pulley. The flange 57 is secured to and held in fixed relation with the flange 56 by means of a plurality of bolts 62 which loosely penetrate the flange 60 therebetween, only one of the bolts 62 being shown in Figure 5. The flanges 60, 61 are prevented from moving apart from each other to cause them to move together axially of the hub 55, by means of a plurality of circularly spaced bolts 63, which loosely penetrate the flange 57 therebetween. Only one of the bolts 63 is shown in Figure 5. The bolts 63 also prevent relative rotational movement between the flanges 60, 61. It will be noted that the hub 55 is keyed to the sleeve 52, as at 64 and the flanges 60, 61 are keyed on the hub 55, as at 66.

It is thus seen that the keys 53, 64, 66 prevent relative rotational movement between the shaft 32 and the pulleys formed by the flanges 56, 60 and 57, 61, while at the same time permitting limited longitudinal sliding movement of the pulleys relative to the sleeve 52, the latter sleeve being fixed on the shaft 32. As disclosed in said co-pending application, the flange 57 has a plurality of spacing legs thereon which loosely penetrate suitable openings formed in the flange 57 and bear against the inclined annular flange 61. The spacing legs and corresponding openings therefor are not shown in the present drawings since they do not necessarily form parts of the present invention. An endless V-belt 67 is mounted on the pulley formed by flanges 57, 61 and connects the same with a fixed diameter pulley 70 suitably secured on the main cylinder shaft (Figures 1 and 2).

Referring again to Figure 5, it will be observed that the flange 61 is engaged by a plurality of outwardly extending legs or piston rods 71 which loosely penetrate a cylinder 72 and are fixed to a piston 73 axially movable within cylinder 72. The cylinder 72 is provided with a hub 74 which is fixed on the end of the hub 55 remote from the flange 56 so that the flanges 56, 57 are maintained in fixed relation with the cylinder 72.

The cylinder 72 is provided with a flexible diaphragm on tube 75 whose outer edges are fixed to the cylinder 72 by a plurality of screws 76 which are also used for securing a cylinder head or cover 77 against the outer end of the cylinder 72. The flexible diaphragm 75 is provided with a valve stem 80 which loosely penetrates the cylinder head or cover 77, thus completing the description of the variable speed pulley assembly 31.

The invention resides in the combination with a variable speed pulley assembly of the character described with means for automatically and progressively increasing the amount of pressure admitted into the cylinder 72 as the diameter of each yarn package increases or, in other words, in proportion to vertical reciprocatory movements of the ring rail 14, to correspondingly increase the effective pitch diameter of the pulley formed from flanges 57, 61 and to, in turn, progressively increase the speed at which the machine is driven.

It will be observed in Figures 1 and 2 that one end of a conduit or fluid pressure line 82 is communicatively connected, by means of a suitable rotary fitting, to the outer end of the valve stem and the other end of conduit 82 is connected to one side of a pressure regulator valve 83 which is fixed, by means of a bracket 84, to the end frame member 10. The other side of the pressure regulator valve 83 has one end of a conduit or pressure line 85 connected thereto which extends from a suitable source of fluid pressure, not shown, such as compressed air. The pressure regulator valve 83 may be of conventional or any desired construction and, accordingly, the pressure regulator valve 83 will not be described in detail. It should be noted, however, that the pressure regulator valve 83 is of the type having a valve shaft 86 which, upon rotation in one direction, increases the amount of pressure which may pass from the conduit 85 into and through conduit 82 and which, upon rotation in the opposite direction, relieves or decreases the amount of pressure in the conduit 82. It is apparent that the valve 83 is of a type which will permit the compressed air to be proportionately released from the conduit 82 when the shaft 86 is rotated in such a manner as to reduce the amount of pressure which the regulator valve 83 will permit to enter the conduit 82 from the conduit 85.

Spaced from the body of the valve 83 and fixed on its shaft 86 is a ratchet wheel 90 and a compression spring 91 encircles the shaft 86 and bears against the proximal surfaces of the ratchet wheel 90 and the body of the regulator valve 83. This compression spring 91 is provided to frictionally resist rotative movement of the ratchet wheel 90 and the shaft 86 of the regulator valve 83 since the shaft 86 also has one end of a pawl-carrying arm 92 loosely mounted thereon. The pawl-carrying arm 92 has a ratchet pawl 93 loosely mounted thereon which normally rests against the periphery of the ratchet wheel 90. The upper end of a connecting rod or link 95 is also pivotally connected to the pawl-carrying arm 92 and its lower portion loosely penetrates a crank arm 97 suitably secured to or formed integral with the cross arm 20 heretofore described. The lower portion of the link or connecting rod 95 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced abutments or collars 100, 101 which are adjustably secured thereon and are adapted to alternately engage the respective upper and lower surfaces of the crank arm 97.

As heretofore stated, the cross arm 20 is rocked or oscillated by the conventional builder motion to impart vertical reciprocation to the ring rail 14 and it follows, therefore, that vertical reciprocation is also imparted to the crank arm 97 by the cross arm 20 to, in turn, impart vertical reciprocation to the link 95, pawl-carrying arm 92 and ratchet pawl 93.

It is thus seen that the ratchet pawl 93 imparts a step in clockwise rotation to the ratchet wheel 90 and valve shaft 86 with each downward or active stroke thereof to correspondingly increase the amount of pressure in the pipe line or conduit 82 which, in turn, moves the movable flange 61 of the variable speed pulley assembly 31 toward the stationary flange 57 and correspondingly increases the effective pitch diameter of the pulley formed by the flanges 57, 61. It is apparent that the pulley formed from flanges 57, 61 is self-centering because of the hub 55 beingkeyed on the sleeve 52.

The collars or abutments 100, 101 are adjustable toward and away from each other in order to vary the effective stroke of the pawl-carrying arm 92 so the speed of the machine may be progressively increased at any predetermined rate in proportion to each reciprocatory movement of the ring rail 14. At the end of each cycle in the operation of the machine; that is, after each set of bobbins 25 has been filled with yarn, the operator merely raises the pawl 93 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 90 and rotates the ratchet wheel 90 and shaft 86 in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 3 to return the valve 83 to zero position. In so doing, the fluid pressure or compressed air is exhausted from the diaphragm 75 and, since the spring 46 (Figure 2) tends to move the motor 30 away from the main shaft 15, the V-belt 67 then causes the flanges 57, 61 to move apart from each other so that, upon the machine again being started and the pawl 93 being released, the machine starts at a relatively slow speed and the speed is then again progressively increased in the manner heretofore described during the winding of yarn onto another set of bobbins 25.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel, eflicient and easily constructed mechanism for progressively increasing the speed of the winding mechanism of a winding machine, such as a spinning machine or twister machine, and whereby the speed of the bobbins 25 and ring rail are increased as the size of the yarn package increases to thereby maintain substantially uniform tension on the yarn as it passes from each ring traveler to the corresponding bobbin. It is also seen that I have provided means whereby the rate at which the speed of the machine is progressively increased may be varied in accordance with the particular demands of the yarn being processed so that, for example, relatively heavy or strong yarns may be wound at faster speeds than relatively light or weak yarns.

,In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of'limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim;

1. In a spinning machine having spindles, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindles and-to reciprocate said ring rail, a constant speed shaft disposed adjacent the main shaft, a pulley fixed on the main shaft, a fluid pressure operated expansible pulley mounted on the constant speed shaft and at least one V-belt entrained over said pulleys; the combination of a conduit extending from a source of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure operated expansible pulley, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, means for progressively opening said pressure regulator valve to correspondingly increase the amount of pressure directed into the fluid pressure operated expansible pulley with movement of said ring rail in one direction with each reciprocation thereof and said expansible pulley being so arranged that increased pressure increases the efiective diameter of the expansible pulley and thereby increases the speed of the machine.

2. A structure according to claim 1 having means for adjusting the rate at which the speed of the machine increases.

3. In a winding machine of the type having a plurality of spindles, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindles and reciprocate said ring rail, at least one pulley fixed on said main shaft and a drive shaft spaced from said main shaft; the combination of a pulley assembly mounted on said drive shaft and including a pair of relatively movable inclined flanges, an endless belt entrained over the pulley on the main shaft and the pulley on the drive shaft, fluid pressure operated means for increasing the effective diameter of the pulley mounted on the drive shaft in proportion to an increase in pressure and to decrease the effective diameter of the pulley on the shaft with a decrease in pressure, a conduit for directing fluid pressure from a source to the fluid pressure operated means, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, and means for opening the pressure regulator valve a predetermined distance with each movement of the ring rail in one direction during reciprocation thereof to correspondingly increase the effective diameter of the pulley mounted on the drive shaft to thereby increase the speed of the machine.

4. In a structure according to claim 3, wherein said machine is provided with a rocking cross arm and said valve is provided with a rotatable shaft, said means for progressively opening said valve comprising a ratchet wheel fixed on the rotatable shaft of said valve, a pawlcarrying arm pivotally mounted on said last-named shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said pawl-carrying arm and engaging the periphery of said ratchet wheel, a crank arm projecting substantially radially from said cross arm, and a link connecting the pawl-carrying arm to the crank arm.

5. A structure according to claim 3, wherein said machine is provided with a rocking cross arm and said valve is provided with a rotatable shaft, said means for progressively opening said valve comprising a ratchet Wheel fixed on the rotatable shaft of said valve, a pawlcarrying arm pivotally mounted on said last-named shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said pawl-carrying arm and engaging the periphery of said ratchet wheel, a crank arm projecting substantially radially from said cross arm, a link pivotally connected to the pawl-carrying arm and depending therefrom and loosely penetrating the crank arm, and a pair of spaced abutments fixed on said link and straddling said crank.

6. A structure according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said abutments is adjustable longitudinally of said link and relative to the other of said abutments to vary the effective strokes of said pawl.

7. In a winding machine having at least one spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindle and reciprocate said ring rail, drive means including a constant speed drive shaft and at least one first V-pulley fixed on said main shaft and a V-belt entrained over said first V-pulley; the combination of a hub member keyed for longitudinal movement on said drive shaft, a second pulley comprising first and second inclined flanges, the first flange being fixed on said hub, the second flange being loose on said hub, said V-belt also being entrained over the second pulley, a cylinder fixed on said hub and spaced from the second flange, a piston mounted for axial movement in said cylinder, at least one piston rod connected to said piston and extending through the cylinder in parallel relation to the axis of the drive shaft and engaging the proximal end of said second flange, a conduit connected to the end of said cylinder remote from said hub and being connected to a source of compressed air, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, and means under control of the ring rail with movement thereof in one direction with each reciprocation thereof for gradually opening the pressure regulator valve to gradually increase the pressure in the cylinder and to correspondingly move the second flange toward the first flange of the second pulley to increase the effective diameter of the second pulley and correspondingly increase the speed of the main shaft.

8. In a winding machine having at least one spindle, a reciprocating ring rail, a reciprocating cross arm driving said ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindle and reciprocate said cross arm, drive means including a constant speed drive shaft and at least one first V-pulley fixed on said main shaft and a V-belt entrained over said first V-pulley, the combination of a hub member keyed for longitudinal movement on said drive shaft, a second pulley comprising first and second inclined flanges, the first flange being fixed on said hub, the second flange being loose on said hub, said V-belt also being entrained over the second pulley, a cylinder fixed on said hub and spaced from the second flange, a piston mounted for axial movement in said cylinder, at least one piston rod connected to said piston and extending through the cylinder in parallel relation to the axis of the drive shaft and engaging the proximal end of said second flange, a conduit connected to the end of said cylinder remote from said hub and being connected to a source of compressed air, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, and means under control of the cross arm with movement thereof in one direction with each reciprocation thereof for progressively opening the pressure regulator valve to gradually increase the pressure in the cylinder and to correspondingly move the second flange toward the first flange of the second. pulley to increase the effective diameter of the second pulley and correspondingly increase the speed of the main shaft.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein said valve is provided with a rotatable shaft; said means for progressively opening said valve comprising a ratchet wheel fixed on the rotatable shaft of said valve, a pawl-carrying arm pivotally mounted on said last-named shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said pawl-carrying arm and engaging the periphery of said ratchet Wheel, a crank arm projecting substantially radially from said cross arm, and a link connecting the pawl-carrying arm with the crank arm.

10. A spinning machine having spindles and a reciprocating ring raii, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindles and to reciprocate said rail, adriven shaft disposed adjacent said main shaft, a first pulley fixed on one of said shafts, a fluid-pressure-operated expansible pulley mounted on the other of said shafts, at least one V-belt entrained over said pulleys, a conduit extending from a source of fluid pressure to said fluid-pressure-operated expansible pulley, means responsive to reciprocation of said ring rail for progressively increasing the amount of pressure directed into the fluid-pressure-operated expansible pulley, and said expansible. pulley being so arranged thatincreased pressure correspondingly changes the effective diameter of the expansible pulley andthereby changes the speed of the machine.

ll. A spinning machine having spindles and a reciprocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindles and to reciprocate said rail, a driven shaft disposed adjacent said main shaft, a first pulley fixed on one of said shafts, a fluid-pressure-operated expansible pulley mounted on the other of said shafts, at least one V-belt entrained over said pulleys, a conduit extending from a source of fluid pressure to said fluid-pressureoperated; expansible pulley, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, means for progressivelyopening said pressure regulator valve to correspondingly increase the amount of pressure directedinto the fluid- V pressure-operated,expansible pulley with movement of'said' rocating ring rail, a main shaft adapted to rotate said spindles and to reciprocate said rail, a driven shaft disposed adjacent said main shaft, a first pulley fixed on one of said shafts, a fluid-pressure-op erated expansible pulley mounted on the other of said shafts, at least one,

V-belt entrained over said pulleys, a conduit extending from a source of fluid pressure to said fluid-pressure operated expansible pulley, a pressure regulator valve interposed in said conduit, means for progressively opening said valve to correspondingly increase the amount of" pressure directed into the expansible pulley with each reciprocation of said ring rail, and said expansible pulley being so arranged that increased pressure changes, the effective diameter of the expansible pulley and thereby changes the speed of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,985,838 Reeves Dec. 25', 1934- 2,026,155 Abbott Dec. 31, 1935' 2,587,897 Rayfield Nov. 4, 1952 

